Dustborn (2024)
The narrative-driven indie game by Red Thread, published by Quantic Dream, drew a lot of ridicule for its sheer unabashed presentation of the game's messaging; it would seem there is little challenge to the negative reception of the title. Having an all-time peak of 76 concurrent players on the digital distribution platform Steam, it's clear that audiences had already decided on their opinions about the game without needing to play it. Clips and screenshots largely affirmed to people that criticism of the title was correct, those criticisms being that the themes of the game are quite on the nose in an ideological manner which does not respect the player's intelligence. What the game chooses to say is especially worrying and rubs many the wrong way given that the title was funded using government grants. The title quite obviously supports socially conscious ideas that condemn the spread of disinformation, though as cultural tensions have proven, progressives are often accused of misappropriating what classifies as disinformation depending on if they benefit from it or not. It would seem the developers unintentionally proved that they're those kinds of people through this project, at least to the large swaths of dissenters. In the game, you seek to very literally pull disinformation out of people's heads, and yet the main character is actively encouraged at multiple points to use lies and deceptions to get their way. With government spending being given to aid in the development of the game, it isn't hard to deduce why some may think that the project signals an endorsement of specific political ideologies and ergo the use of disinformation by a select group of chosen higher-ups. Going forward, it's likely there won't be any amount of praise directed toward this game anytime soon and if any does come to light it will be promptly dismissed.
“Dustborn - Steam Charts.” Steamcharts.com, 2024, steamcharts.com/app/721180#All. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Tarzia, Jeff. “Dustborn Damage Control: CEO ‘Caught off Guard’ by Backlash.” SmashJT.com, 16 Oct. 2024, www.smashjt.com/post/dustborn-damage-control-ceo-caught-off-guard-by-backlash. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Trent, John F. “Following Reports of ‘Dustborn’ Receiving Funding from the EU, the U.S. Government Spent over a Quarter Million Dollars on a ‘Counter-Disinformation Game.’” ThatParkPlace, 29 Aug. 2024, thatparkplace.com/following-reports-of-dustborn-receiving-funding-from-the-eu-the-u-s-government-spent-over-a-quarter-million-dollars-on-a-counter-disinformation-game/. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Velocci, Carli. “Dustborn.” Gamesradar, 14 Aug. 2024, www.gamesradar.com/games/adventure/dustborn-review/. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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